1. Freedom

Category Archives: Freedom

Political insider: Celebrate tax freedom April 14

Posted on by

April 14 may seem like another spring Sunday in Michigan, but there's reason to celebrate: It's Tax Freedom Day in the Great Lakes State.

According to the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C., think tank, April 14 is when Michigan residents have worked enough days to satisfy all of their tax obligations to the federal, state and local governments.

Theoretically, Michigan workers can keep the rest of their earnings for the year after Sunday, though the national Tax Freedom Day is April 18.

But when federal borrowing is included, Americans would have to work to May 9 to satisfy the federal government's deficit spending, according to the Tax Foundation.

Former Attorney General Mike Cox maintains he's still in the Grand Old Party despite breaking with most Republicans this week by endorsing same-sex marriage.

Cox said his increasingly "libertarian" philosophy led him to conclude gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry to obtain the same property rights as heterosexual couples.

But Cox, who recently said he wouldn't run for the U.S. Senate next year, wants fellow Republicans to know he hasn't left the reservation like a certain former governor from Traverse City.

"I don't want to be like Bill Milliken , who pretends to be a Republican when he isn't," Cox told The Detroit News.

Mike Flanagan , the state superintendent of schools, surprised political observers last month when he expressed interest in running for retiring U.S. Sen. CarlLevin 's seat next year.

Apparently, his wife, Anna , was a bit surprised to learn of his political aspirations as well, only learning about them when her husband announced his interest March 13 on Michael Patrick Shiels ' statewide radio program.

Originally posted here:

Political insider: Celebrate tax freedom April 14

Freedom Autosport finishes 1-2 in CTSCC ST race at Barber

Posted on by

LEEDS, Ala.Saturdays GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Barber Motorsports Park was a memorable one for Freedom Autosport, who finished first and second in the Street Tuner class.

#25 Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5: Tom Long, Derek Whitis

Photo by: Luis Betancourt

Whitis started the race second and held down a top-three position during his stint. The No. 25 Mazda was among the first ST entries to make a regular pit stop, but the strategy played out perfectly: after the ST class had cycled through pit stops, the No. 25 was at the front with Long behind the wheel. Long was able to hold onto the top spot until the checkered flag came out at the end of the 2.5-hour race.

ODoski and Carbonell had to put up more of a fight to earn their second-place finish. ODoski worked his way into the top ten during his opening stint, then Carbonell continued the charge, working his way through the field as the clock counted down.

The win marks the second podium finish in a row for Whitis and Long, who finished second at Circuit of the Americas last month. Despite some bad luck at Barber last year, they knew that the tight 2.3-mile Barber circuit would be a good fit for the MX-5.

The Continental tires and Mazda MX-5s were truly the perfect combination in what was a flawless weekend for Freedom Autosport at Barber Motorsports Park. The entire Freedom team did an amazing job with the cars from the minute they showed up, says Whitis.

The Freedom Autosport team has worked so hard to get to this point, says Long. Our MX-5s were strong and reliable right off the truck. To have Freedom Autosport finish one-two, and Mazdas finish in the top three is as exciting as it gets for us, and were happy about getting this points boost as we head into a new track next week.

After three years of bad luck resulting in DNFs, Carbonell was happy to see the checkered flag at Barber. He says, Our cars were so good with the Continental tires. We just had to keep a consistent pace and stay patientwe couldnt make any mistakes. Once I got up to the top four, it was really equally matched, so pushing from fourth to second became a real battle.

Carbonell and ODoski matched their best Barber finish to date after taking second in 2009. Weve always had a great car for Barber, and its one of the best circuits for the MX-5, so it feels great to finally show that in the results, says ODoski. We really have to capitalize on points at tracks like this.

See the original post:

Freedom Autosport finishes 1-2 in CTSCC ST race at Barber

Freedom of Information Conference examines gun permit, death certificate issues

Posted on by

By Viktoria Sundqvist vsundqvist@middletownpress.com @ctfoi on Twitter

Freedom of Information Conference panel

HADDAM Openness makes for a safer society, panelists at an annual Freedom of Information Conference concluded Tuesday.

In the wake of the Dec. 14 shootings in Newtown, the issues of transparency in government is a timely topic, Freedom of Information Commission Executive Director Colleen Murphy said to a crowd of town officials from across the state gathered at the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station.

Questions whether gun permit records and death certificates should be public created discussion among panelists and audience members, but the overall consensus was that the release of information is crucial to a fully democratic society.

And keynote speaker Frank Harris, a professor at Southern Connecticut State University, went so far as to say everyone needs to stand up and speak out when they see something wrong.

We are all prospective whistleblowers, he told those gathered in the room. There are all kinds of opportunities to blow the whistle on things that are wrong and help make them right.

But people who speak up often get punished, he said, mentioning Steubensville and the recent rape case of two 13-year-old girls in Torrington who were later attacked online by friends of the suspects after the allegations came to light.

Its the person blowing the whistle who catches hell, Harris said. But he encouraged everyone to stand with the whistleblowers who try to right the wrong.

More:

Freedom of Information Conference examines gun permit, death certificate issues

Fears freedom of artistic expression under fire

Posted on by

The Australia Council could see its responsibility to champion freedom of expression for artists watered down under changes before the federal government.

Arts industry leaders have written to Arts Minister Tony Burke expressing concern over the removal of "critical" functions from the Australia Council's mission, including the need to "uphold and promote the right of persons to freedom in the practice of the arts." Instead, in a bill currently before the House of Representatives, the Australia Council is only required to "have regard to" freedom of expression.

"It's a very, very different requirement, it's passive rather than active," said Tamara Winikoff of the National Association for the Visual Arts. "As the principal arts body in the country it's one of the most important functions, we would have thought, of an Australia Council to take an active role in asserting the rights of artists to freedom of expression."

Last year a government-commissioned review of the Australia Council made 18 recommendations relating to the structure and purpose of the council. The new bill was introduced to parliament on March 20 and, rather than diminishing the role of freedom of expression, the government maintains the new wording instead makes it an "overarching principle" for the council. Mr Burke was overseas and unavailable for comment.

Advertisement

However, Ms Winikoff said artists were increasingly being subjected to censorship, not because their work was illegal but because someone else objected to it. A much stronger imperative to uphold freedom of expression was needed in the bill, she said.

Of equal concern to signatories, which includes former arts bureaucrat and ex-Australia Council deputy chair Anne Dunn, and head of Regional Arts Australia Jane Scott, is the apparent removal of the Australia Council's responsibility to promote arts in the broader community.

"With no mention of the community in the new Bill the Australia Council has no responsibility for arts in the community," Regional Arts Australia's submission says.

"It's a backward step," Ms Dunn said. "To box the community into only being the audience is kind of a ridiculous notion. (We are) trying to get the legislation to reflect that the community is part of an artistic nation."

See the original post here:

Fears freedom of artistic expression under fire

Freedom of Information Conference affirms benefits of openness

Posted on by

By Viktoria Sundqvist vsundqvist@middletownpress.com @ctfoi on Twitter

Freedom of Information Conference

HADDAM Openness makes for a safer society, panelists at an annual Freedom of Information Conference concluded Tuesday.

In the wake of the Dec. 14 shootings in Newtown, the issues of transparency in government is a timely topic, Freedom of Information Commission Executive Director Colleen Murphy said to a crowd of town officials from across the state gathered at the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station.

Questions whether gun permit records and death certificates should be public created discussion among panelists and audience members, but the overall consensus was that the release of information is crucial to a fully democratic society.

And keynote speaker Frank Harris, a professor at Southern Connecticut State University, went so far as to say everyone needs to stand up and speak out when they see something wrong.

We are all prospective whistleblowers, he told those gathered in the room. There are all kinds of opportunities to blow the whistle on things that are wrong and help make them right.

But people who speak up often get punished, he said, mentioning Steubensville and the recent rape case of two 13-year-old girls in Torrington who were later attacked online by friends of the suspects after the allegations came to light.

Its the person blowing the whistle who catches hell, Harris said. But he encouraged everyone to stand with the whistleblowers who try to right the wrong.

Read the rest here:

Freedom of Information Conference affirms benefits of openness

Freedom of art celebrated at Iowa State

Posted on by

Nowhere in the First Amendment does it say anything about the freedom of art, but does that mean that artists don't have the same Freedom of Speech rights as everyone else?

On Wednesday, April 10, 2013, in the Great Hall of Memorial Union, Brian Duffy and Heidi Wastweet spoke to a crowd of about 60 people about their unique forms of Freedom of Speech, and their struggles with the First Amendment.

Heidi Wastweet is a medal sculptor, and her specialty is in bas-relief bronzes. She sits on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, which works with the treasury on the designs of all coins in the United States.

Wastweet spoke mostly of how she uses coins and sculptures as a medium of Freedom of Speech. In ancient times, they used the faces of their leaders on their currency, just as is common today. Heidi noted that back before there was television, radio or newspaper, people relied on the changing of the faces on the coins to know when a political leader has died or been taken over.

Heidi also uses the medals she sculpts to depict Freedom of Speech. Though the images she is sculpting for others may not always convey her religious, political or educational beliefs, she will always use the skills she has to protect the Freedom of Speech for others.

Use whatever medium you have to exercise these rights that have been given to you. Dont take them for granted; use them however you want, Wastweetsaid.

Brian Duffy is an editorial cartoonist whose work has been published in the Des Moines Register for the last 25 years.

Duffy spoke of how editorial cartooning is a lost art that nobody really wants to get into anymore, but nevertheless is still a great example of Freedom of Speech.

Duffy said that many people dont get their news from a newspaper anymore, and the majority of the news is viewed online, which is why editorial cartoons are going extinct.

Cartoons also involve a lot more words and exaggeration than they used to, and thats not what people are interested in.

Continued here:

Freedom of art celebrated at Iowa State

Freedom Flotilla: Lake Eyre to West Papua

Posted on by

Freedom Flotilla: Lake Eyre to West Papua

11 April 2013

Uncle Kevin (Kev) Buzzacott, a Peacemaker from Arabunna Nation at Lake Eyre in South Australia and Jacob Rumbiak (exiled Foreign Affairs Minister from the Federated Republic of Occupied West Papua) have announced a new action of creative resistance against the apartheid of colonisation and destruction caused by multinational mining companies on Indigenous land in Australia and West Papua.

The Lake Eyre to West Papua Freedom Flotilla is a journey that hopes to reunite the history and peoples of a land that was once geographically and culturally connected.

We were one people, we still are one people, we must uphold our cultural connection, the old land is calling us, proclaimed Uncle Kev, Arabunna Elder.

We have a responsibility to care for our brothers and sisters from across the water. We must bring the water and the fire, the love and the music to heal the country and move in solidarity.

This action has been called and endorsed by Indigenous Elders from both Australia and West Papua and is being actively supported by a coalition of environmental and human rights activists, artists and musicians from all over Australia.

Jacob Rumbiak, exiled West Papuan Elder confirmed, We are one with this continent...Indigenous, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Tasmania; we are one people.

Uncle Kev and Jacob Rumbiak have called on their friends and families of all nations to join them at the shores of Lake Eyre from July 20th-25th for a ceremony and music/arts Protestival to celebrate the survival of the old land and to stand strong.

The convoy intends to transport sacred water collected from the mound springs of Arabunna country while following the ancient song lines across Australia in a freedom ride from Lake Eyre to Cairns; reconnecting culturally and creatively with Aboriginal communities at Alice Springs, Tenant Creek and others on the way.

See the article here:

Freedom Flotilla: Lake Eyre to West Papua

European Parliament does not defending freedom of speech – deutsch – EU-democracy-Watch – Video

Posted on by


European Parliament does not defending freedom of speech - deutsch - EU-democracy-Watch
Europisches Parlament behauptet sie vertreten Meinungsfreiheit. Tatsache: Keine Meinungsfreiheit im Parlament http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10BxQh6RKc0 Ein...

By: TheEuWatch

Read more:

European Parliament does not defending freedom of speech - deutsch - EU-democracy-Watch - Video

THE FREEDOM INVENTION: BalanceWear® is Doing the Impossible

Posted on by

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Today, millions of Americans are unsteady on their feet due to a variety of medical-related issues. Gifted artist, Donna Terry, is one of the many narratives that speaks directly to the challenges and, often heartbreak of mobility loss. At 85 years-young, she is an unlikely video personality, but she wanted to tell her personal story.

My name is Donna and Ive come to you because I know that I need help, she begins. Ive lived here for 45 years. I married the handsomest man in the Navy and I had been married for 65 years except that my husband died two years ago and that has made it very, very difficult for me. Im losing my ability to continue with my life as I want it to be.

See the Video Here

Terrys doctor suggested she try BalanceWear, a therapeutic invented by Physical Therapist Cindy Gibson-Horn and manufactured by Motion Therapeutics. BalanceWear was designed to counter balance loss in individuals based on Gibson-Horns research utilizing Balance-Based Torso Weighting (BBTW). It has attracted doctors, researchers and patients suffering balance loss and earned a National Institutes of Health Recovery Grant of just under $400,000 awarded to Samuel Merritt University (SMU) Physical Therapy Professor Dr. Gail Widener, PT, and Dr. Diane Allen at San Francisco State University to continue research into Balance-Based Torso Weighting (BBTW) and its effects on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) mobility challenges. The first phase of the study validates previous research funded by the National MS Society demonstrating same session improvement in walking.

Mobility and balance challenges affect many patients dealing with various injuries and diseases, says Gibson-Horn. Donna is an example of a very active woman who has tried to maintain the same level of activity she had prior to her balance issues. The result has been serious falls ending in two broken arms.

It was like dipping your feet into the Fountain of Youth, said Terry after putting on BalanceWear, specifically designed for her personal balance needs. I could feel the difference when I walked.

Donnas a great example of the empowering benefits of BalanceWear, says Steve Cookston, CEO of Motion Therapeutics. We are inspired by each and every patient that regains their former freedom and mobility from BalanceWear. We have a very high rate of success, but a lot does depend on the individual patient and what is causing their imbalance.

See Donnas story on Youtube.com

For more information on BalanceWear, visit http://www.motiontherapeutics.com. Motion Therapeutics is a provider of therapeutic products designed to improve balance, stability and mobility in many disease states utilizing patented Balance-Based Torso-Weighting (BBTW) technology provided in the patented BalanceWear Series mobility products. The companys products are designed to accelerate the recovery and rehabilitation of adults and children with balance challenges and improve the mobility, confidence and independence of individuals. Visit MotionTherapeutics.com to learn more.

See more here:

THE FREEDOM INVENTION: BalanceWear® is Doing the Impossible


  1. Freedom